Starting mechanism



Nov. 12, 1935.

T. J-B. LAFITTE 2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 75 l/wz/vra/e 33 m R Nov. 12, 1935. T 2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig- E 56//VVE/VZOR, v 53 M A W g @716 Nov. 12, 1935. T, J-B, LAFITTE STARTINGMECHANISM Filed March 25, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1935- T. J-B. LAFITTE2,020,789

STARTING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l/w zrv ran,

Q l Kc a a m Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE STARTINGMECHANISM York Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,850 In FranceSeptember 29, 1932 11 Claims.

This invention relates to starters, but more particularly to startersadapted to be utilized in conjunction with internal combustion engines.

One object .of the invention is to provide a 5 starter wherein theengagement and disengagement of the starting pinion may be readilycontrolled in conjunction with the ignition circuit and starting motorcircuit as a function of the operation of the engine to be started.

10 Another object is to provide a novel construction by which theengagement or disengagement of the starting pinion is governed by theengine vacuum.

Still another object of the invention is to sim- 7. plify and insure thecontrol of the starting mechanism through association of the controlsthereof with the accelerator pedal or with control means disposed on thevehicle dash.

Another object is to so dispose the various ele- 20 ments of themechanism that the purely mechanical elements are separated fromelectrical elements by a wall which serves as journal for the armatureshaft of the starting motor, the electrical elements being positioned soas to be 25 readily accessible while the mechanical elements are whollyencased.

Otherobjects and advantagesof the invention will appear from thefollowing specification taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings 30 wherein:

Fig. l is a lateral elevation of the starting mechanism showing thestarting pinion in mesh with the ring gear.

Fig.2 is a section at 2-2 on Fig. 1 certain ele- 35 ments being omittedfor the sake of clarity.

Fig. 3 is a section at 3-3 on Fig. l with certain omissions for clarity.

Fig. 4: is a rear view of a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a lateral elevation showing the starting pinion in mesh withthe ring gear.

Fig. 6 shows the ends of the teeth of the starting pinion and ring gearin position butted against each other, the electrical contact beingopen.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 withthe elec- 45 trical contactsclosed.

8 is a detail showing the starting contacts and ignition contactsinterrupted.

Fig. 9 shows an ensemble of controls leading to the vehicle dash and tothe accelerator pedal, and

50 Fig. 10 shows a modified control of the starting motor contacts.

Having reference particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the startingmotor I is provided with a casing 2 forming a journal for the armatureshaft 55 3 which is adapted to rotate in the bearing '4 and carrysplined thereon a pinion disposed to mesh With a similar pinion 6positioned so as to be capable of meshing with the ring gear "i of themotor to be started. The spacing and positioning of the pinions 5 and 6are assured by a frame 8 5 designed to oscillate on the bearing 0 andthrough the intermediary of a ring 9 on the hearing if! which ispinnedto the shaft 3. The pinion 6 carries two rings H capable of turning on amember 12 which is maintained in place by a bolt 14.

Disposed on a prolongation of this bolt It is a swinging member l6provided with a fork I! in which engages a runner l8 turning on aspindle I9 that is riveted or rigidly fixed to the lever 20.

The lever 20 carries a prolongation 2| and is riveted or rigidly fixedby any means found suitable on the shaft 22 which, traversing thehousingg2, projects therefrom on the side on which the starting motor ispositioned. On the shaft 22 there is fixed another lever 23 whosespherical extremity 24 is fricticnally engaged between two shell-likemembers 25 constructed of insulating material. These members 25 arefixed to a plate 26 of copper or any other good conductor which isadapted to engage with two contacts 2'! and 25 28 having the extensions26 and 30 (Fig. 2), suitably insulated from the plate 3| fixed to thehousing'Z. The other extremity of the swinging member l6 has the form ofa fork and is adapted to straddle and be pinned to a link member 32(Fig- 30 ures 1,.3, 5, 6 and 7) which is articulated on the piston 33 at34. The piston 33 and its extension ,35 are adapted to slide in thecylinder 35 with a very small. amount of friction. The cylinder may beconstructed together with the housing 2 as a 35 single casting.

Adjacent the cylinder 36 (Fig. 3) is found a chamber 38 into which openthe orifices 39 and '40. The orifice 40 is furnished with a valve 4|carrying ahole 42 of a suitable sizeand the valve 40 being maintained onits seat by a spring 43. The spring alsobears against the edge of astamping 4'4 guided by the element 35 and provided with openings 46 insuitable number. To themember 45 there is attached a conduit 41connecting the 45 chamber 38 with the intake manifold of the engine at apoint where the degree of vacuum is ever the greatest. The total sectionof the open ings 46 should be at least 10% greater than the section ofthe conduit 47. An opening 74 is 50 adapted to communicate the interiorof the cylinder'36 with the atmosphere.

The frame 8 oscillates about the shaft 3 and when the pinion 6 mesheswith the ring gear 1, is adapted to butt against an eminence 48.

When the pinion 3 and ring gear 1 are out of mesh, the frame is retainedor held by the link 32 through the intermediary of the piston 33 whichis retracted, as will hereinafter appear. Provided on the eminence 48 isa spindle 49 on which is articulated an oscillating lever 50 having atoe 5| (Fig. 1) and equipped with a spring 53 connecting the point 52 toa fixed point 55. The

upper extremity of the lever 55 is adaptedto press against the swingingmember I5 and as a result of the spring 53, it continually tends to drawthe piston 33 out of the cylinder 35 into the position illustrated inFig. 1. Another spring 56 having one of its extremities attached to theframe 8 at 57? and its other extremity fixed at a point 58, tends tooscillate the frame 8 about the shaft 3 and like spring 53 tends toeffect the engagement of the pinion 3 and the ring gear 1. A lever 53fixed on a spindle 6E! traversing the casing 2 is provided with a toe 59adapted to engage and bear upon the toe 5! of the lever 53. The spindle38 passes through the casing 2 and is furnished with an angular arm M.This arm may be brought into the position 32 as indicated on Fig. 5 andis adapted to be controlled either manually or through a connection tothe accelerator pedal.

The plate 3! is traversed by a shouldered push member 5 (Fig. 8) theupper part of which, 65, is provided with a helicoidal groove 56 inwhich a finger 5? is adapted to engage. A lever 68 controls the rotationof the push member and effects the advance or retraction of the memberabove the plate 31. This advance or retraction brings about the closingand opening, respectively, of the ignition circuit as more clearlyillustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The extremity of a flat spring to restsin a groove 18 in the part 65 of the push member 54, the flat springcarrying a contact 75 insulated therefrom and having attached theretothe electrical conduit H. The second electrical conduit of the circuit13 is connected to a contact 12 fixedly mounted and insulated asillustrated. As shown in Fig. 4, the push member may be advanced out ofor beyond the plate 3! with the result that. the contact 1'0 is raisedthrough the intermediary of the flat spring 63 to which it is aflixedand the finger 61 cooperating'with the helicoidal groove E56, with theresultthat contacts 73 and T2 are engaged and the ignition circuit isclosed.

The functioning of the mechanism so far disclosed is as follows. 7

The pinions 5 and 6 and the ring gear I being i in mesh as indicated inFig. 1, are'maintained in this position wherein the frame 8 buttsagainst the eminence 43, due tothe attraction of the spring 53 onthe'lever 53. In this position the piston is displaced to its maximumdegree to the right and the valve 35. obstructs opening 49 whilst thepiston 33, uncovers the opening to atmosphere'M. The swinging member l6has oscillated around the axis l5 and effected the oscillation of thelevers 23 and 23, effecting thereby contact of the plate 25 with thecontacts 2i and 28, thus establishing the contact causing closure of thecircuit of the starting motor. The

motor, on commencing to rotate, transmits motion to the ring gear Ithrough the pinions 5 and 6 until the moment the enginestarts.

At this moment the reaction of the teeth of the pinion 6 on the teeth ofthe gear I effects oscillationoftheframe 8 around its axis 3. Thisresults in a reaction through the axis l5 on the swinging member i6which, pivoting about 8 and i9, pushes on the link 32 through theintermediary der 36 out through the opening 14, the valve 35 uncoversthe opening 39 at the moment the piston 33 again obstructs the opening14, the suction of the engine acting through the conduit 41 lifts thevalve 3i, and a vacuum is created in the This vacuum chamber 38 and thecylinder 36. effects the retraction of the piston 33 with the resultthat the ensemble is brought into the po- .sition indicated in Fig. 5.

The traction exercised by the piston 33, however, is exerted on theextremity of the swinging member it through the intermediary of the link32, whilst the spring 5%? draws on the frame 8 which, through the axis55, acts upon the swinging member [5. This effects, through the fork ll,the oscillation of lever 23, of the shaft 22 and of the lever 23 withthe result that a separation is effected between the contacts 21 and 28and the plate 26, thereby interrupting the starting motor current andcausing the motor to stop. This movement is limited by the prolongation2| which is adapted to butt against the fixed memher 15. small spring Tl(Fig. 4) which centers on the push member 5 and bears on a sphericallyheaded lever 23.

It is to be noted that in the position of the elements as shown in Fig.5, the spring 53 which is but slightly stretched, acts on the lever 50through a lever arm considerably smaller than the lever arm asillustrated in Fig. 1. As a result of this disposition of the leverarms, a very small vacuum is enabled to maintain the piston 33 in itsretracted position. When the vacuum, as a result, for example, of thestopping of the engine, disappears altogether, the spring 56, exertingits effort on the frame 8, causes it to oscillate about the axis 3,tending to effect the meshing of pinion 3 with the ring gear I. Thespring 53 like: wise acts through the intermediary of the lever 55,causing it to push on the base of the swinging member i6, but in orderto efiect movement thereof, it is necessary that it move the piston 33which resists this movement, due to the fact that the valve it is closedand the air must overcomethe vacuum in chamber 38 and cylinder 35through a small, suitably calibrated hole.

It is obvious, therefore, that the effect of spring 53 on the swingingmember I6 is inferior to that of the spring 55 with the resultthat theswinging member ifi oscillates around the axis 15 and through theintermediary of the fork l I acts upon the levers 25 and 23, whichremain in the positions shown on Fig. 5 (the circuit being interrupted)until the moment in which the meshing of pinion 5 and ring gear '1 iseffected. The frame 8 then butts against the eminence 48, therebyannulling the effect of the spring 56 and the spring This condition ofaffairs is aided by a 53 continuing to retract, effects the swinging ofthe member l3 and the oscillation of levers 20 and 23 into the positionshown in Fig. 1, wherein the contact between 26 and 2'! and 28 isestablished. The starting motor thereupon commences to rotate'againuntil the moment that the engine starts, whereupon the cycle is againrepeated.

Heretofore it has been supposed that the meshing of pinion 3 with thering gear '1 was. fully erfected. This, however, is not always the casefor, sometimes, the'engagement of the teeth is not complete and in someinstances there is no engagement as, for example, when the ends of theteeth button each other. Such a coincidence isillustrated in Figures 6and 7 wherein it can be noted that the pinion fi and ring gear I are inengagement only by the ends of their respective teeth. In thiscircumstance, the functioning is as follows:

When the teeth of pinion 6 and of the ring gear 1 butt end on on eachother, the effect of spring 56 is annulled, whilst the spring 53continues to retract, resulting in causing the swinging member l6 andthe levers 20 and 23 to move from the position illustrated in Fig. 6tothat illustrated in Fig. 7 which is that wherein the circuit isestablished. Immediately on closing of the'circuit of the startingmotor, the motor commences to turn and the teeth of pinion 6 meshcompletely with the teeth of the ring gear I, for the effect of thesprings 53 and 56 is exerted immediately on frame 8 to bring it intoposition where it butts against the eminence 48. The ring gear 1 is thenrotated as above disclosedand the cycle of events reoommences. It is tobe pointed out that the effect of the spring 53 on the retracted piston33 can be made as small as desired through a modification of the leverarm on which the spring acts with the result that a very small vacuummay be sufficient to maintainthe pinion 6 .and the ring gear 1 out ofthe mesh.

The valve 4| is adapted to be lifted by suction and is provided with asmall opening 42 of definite diameter in order to provide a dashpoteffect, thereby introducing a time element for the pisten 33 to returnto its position corresponding to the meshing of pinion 6 and ringgear 1. After the engine has stopped, neglecting leakage, it is by thisopening 42 that air will enter the chamber 38 for the purpose ofdissipating the vacuum existing therein.

This valve is also designed to avoid the harmful effects of the enginebackfiring. The opening 42 without other provision offers a small butnevertheless effective passage for the excess pressures created throughthe backfiring of the engine and in order to avoid a transmittal of suchpressures to the chamber 38, a member 44 which may be a stamping, isdisposed above the member 4|. The member 44 is provided with a series ofopenings 46 which, when it is lifted from the element 4| through theintermediary of spring 43, permits the passage of fluid through theopening 46, between 44 and 4| and thus, through the opening 42. On thecreation of an excess pressure due, for instance, to backfiring of theengine, the element 44 compresses spring 43 and comes into engagementwith the element 4| thereby interrupting the opening 42 and thusprecluding the transmittal of pressure into the chamber 38.

For the purpose of guarding against an absence of vacuum either becauseof its being too weak by consequence of toosudden an opening of thethrottle or by consequence of leakage in the conduit 21, or byconsequence of any other condition which might cause an absence ofvacuum, means are provided comprising the levers GI .and 59 forcontrolling the toe 5| of the lever 50. Alteration of the position oflever 6| from that illustrated in Fig. 5 in full lines to thatillustrated in dotted lines 62 results in moving the lever 50 from theposition of Fig. 1 wherein the pinion 6 and ring gear 1 are engaged, tothe position indicated in Fig. 5 where the two gears are unmeshed.

Figure .9 illustrates an arrangement whereby these elements may .becontrolled manually through the intermediary of a button provided on anautomobile dash, or through the accelerator pedal. A lever 6| is hitchedby a link or by a cable and through the intermediary of a double slidemember 8|-82, to the lever 83 on the one hand fixed to the acceleratorpedal and on the other hand to a double arm lever 85-86 which oscillatesabout the axis 81. The arm 36 of the last mentioned lever is controlledby a button 88 disposed on the automobile dash, a spring 89 beingprovided to maintain the button either in advanced or retracted positionand as a consequence, the lever 85 in the position indicated on Fig. 9or in the position 90. The operation of the mechanism of Fig. 9 is asfollows:

Supposing pinion 6 in mesh with the ring gear I and the acceleratorpedal in idling position as indicated on Fig. 9, the lever 83 is towardsthe upper end of the slide 8| or may even butt against the upper end ofthis slide. Pressure on the accelerator pedal 84 will result in bringingthe lever 83 into a position analogous to 92, thereby moving the lever6| into the position 62 thus effecting the disengagement or unmeshing ofpinion 6 and ring gear 1, in the event that the engine vacuum has notalready effected this operation. This movement of the pedal 84 effectsmovement of the double slide member 8|-82, but this movement, however,has no effect on the elements illustrated above lever 83 as will benoted from the Figure 9.

If, by pressing on the button 88, it is caused to advance, lever 86moves into position where it is maintained by spring 89 which, duringthis movement, passes to the other side of the center of the axis 81.The result of this movement is that the lever 85 takes the position 9|and the link or cable 93 lifts the double slide member 8|82 andtherethrough the lever 6| into the position 62. As a consequence thereofthe pinion 6 and the ring gear I are disengaged or unmeshed. If, for anyreason whatsoever the vacuum necessary for the operation of theautomatic starting mechanism should fail, the mechanism just disclosedwill permit, through a button disposed on the automobile dash, theengagement or the disengagement necessary for effecting the starting ofthe motor.

For the purpose of reducing the number of contacts providing current forthe starting mechanism and for the purpose .of avoiding the mounting ofelectrical cables or circuits on the dash of the automobile, recoursemay be had to an arrangement represented in detail in Figures 4, 8 and9. The push member 55 fixed to the lever 68 is controlled for itsrotation in one direction, by the Bowden wire 94-95, or by any othermeans found suitable, and for rotation in the opposite direction, by areturn spring not illustrated. When the button 96 is depressed, thedouble lever 9|98 is moved from the position illustrated in full linesto the position 99|BE|. The resulting movement of the lever 68 causesthe push member 64 to advance due to the helicoidal groove 66 in whichthe finger 61 engages. Now, when the push member 64 is advanced asindicated in Fig. 4, arm 23 is unlocked and contact between the plate 26and the contacts 21 and 28 may be effected through the lever 29 andstarting of the motor may take place On the contrary, however, when thepush member 64 is retracted as illustrated in Fig. 8, it precludes theraising or rotation of lever -23 and thereby prevents the effecting ofcontactgbetweenifi, '21 and 28 and consequently does not permit thestarting motor to be energized.

This same rotation of 68 effects at the same time the control of theignition contacts as follows. When the push member 64-65 is advanced,the groove 18 permits the fiat spring 69 to assure contact betweencontacts 10 and 12 thus permitting the ignition circuit to be completed,but when the push member is directed in the position illustrated in Fig.8, the groove 18 effects a withdrawal of the flat spring member 69 andconsequently an interruption of the circuit at contacts 1G and 72. It isto be noted that the interruption of the circuit at the contacts 18 andl2 and the rendering inoperative of the lever 23 through theintermediary of the push member 64fi5, as well as making of the contactthrough iii and F2 and rendering contact possible between 26, 21' and 28through unlocking of the lever 23, takes place simultaneously.

In the preceding embodiment, swinging member I5 is pivoted in such a waythat the piston 33 has a: course longer than the pinion 6, but obviouslythe relation between the course of the piston and of the pinion 6 may bealtered to suit the exigencies of the particular installation.

It is to be noted also that only the purely mechanical parts of themechanism are housed within the motor housing 2, the electrical elementsbeing positioned exteriorly thereto for the purpose of rendering them ofeasy access. The housing 2, whilst not only providing an effectiveoperation between'the purely mechanical and the electrical elements alsoprovides a journal for the armature shaft and permits ready attachmentof the vacuum conduit and the mechanical controls. It is also to benoted that the closing of the electrical circuits is eifected only afterthe teeth of the starting pinion lo and ring gear I are brought intoengagement.

Fig. 10 shows a modified control of the starting motor electricalcontacts. The movement of piston H32 controls the valve me which, as inthe arrangernent before disclosed, obstructs or uncovers the opening itsleading to a source of vacuum, for instance the intake manifold. Throughits ends I and Hit, the piston 532 permits communication of the openinglil'i, now with the part submitted to the depression by the side IE8,now with the atmosphere by the side I69. The orifice I0? is connected toa cylinder llll which contains a piston I I l opposed by a spring H2; Onthe end of this piston there is provided a suitably insulated andelastically mounted contact H4 to which is connected a source ofelectrical current,

and this contact engages with another contact sipated, the piston I92 isreturned to the position i It through the intermediary of the elementsdisclosed in conjunction with the prior em.- bodiments and the valve ismoved from the position I as to the position ill with the result thatthe conduit IM is obstructed and the edge 35 of the piston I 93 is movedto the position I I8. This results in the communication of'the orificeN11 with the atmosphere and frees the auxiliary energization of thestarting motor.

It is to be understood that the dimensions and form of the precedingmechanisms may be varied, that the elements may be interchanged,modified or completed and the various details thereof piston Illwhich,-as a result ofthe pressure of spring H2, closes the contact H4H5thereby assuring the arrival of electrical current for the tion of thestarting motor actuated by oscillation of said transmitting mechanism,and means for delaying energization of the starting motor until afterthe transmitting mechanism has oscillated into operative position.

2. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor having a shaft,mechanism for transmitting motion to an engine to be started disposedfor oscillation into operative or inoperative position on said shaft,means to control the energization of the starting motor actuated byoscillation of said transmitting mechanism, means urging thetransmitting mechanism into operative position, and means for delayingenergization of the starting motor until after the transmittingmechanism has oscillated into operative position, said means beingoperable in case of failure of the transmitting mechanism to properlyengage, to

-energize the starting motor, to secure operative engagement andactuation of the transmitting mechanism.

' for oscillation into operative or inoperative position on said shaftand means to control the energization of the starting motor mounted foroscillation on said transmitting mechanism and controlled by the intakevacuum of the engine.

4. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor, an engineignition circuit, a starting motor circuit, mechanism for transmittingmotion from the starting motor to an engine to be started and adapted tooscillate into operative and inoperative position,'means positioned foroscillationon said transmitting mechanism for controlling theignitionand starting circuits and manually operated'means for closingthe ignition circuit and rendering the means positioned on saidtransmitting means operable to'control the starting motor circuit.

5. In a device of the class disclosed, a starting motor, an engineignition circuit, a starting motor circuit, mechanism for transmittingmotion from the starting motor to an engine to be started and adapted tooscillate into operative and inoperative position, means positioned foroscillation on said transmitting mechanism for controlling the ignitionand starting circuits and engine operated and manually operated meansfor positioning said transmitting mechanism and said oscillating means;

6.In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanismtherefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor,means including an oscillatably mounted gear for connecting the motor tocrank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operativeposition, and means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine forwithdrawing said gear.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanismtherefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor,means including an oscillatably mounted gear for connecting the motor tocrank the engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operativeposition, means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine forwithdrawing said gear and means controlled by movement of said gear foractuating the starting switch.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanismtherefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor,means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crankthe engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position,means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing saidgear, and means controlled by the engine accelerator for preventingmovement of the starter gear to operative position.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine, starting mechanismtherefor including a starting motor and an electrical circuit therefor,means including a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crankthe engine, means yieldably urging said gear toward operative position,means responsive to intake vacuum of the engine for withdrawing saidgear, means controlled by movement of said gear for actuating thestarting switch and unitary means for controlling the engine ignitionsystem and for preventing closure of the starting switch when theignition switch is opened.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine, startingmechanism therefor including a motor and a starting switch, meansincluding a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor tocrank theengine and disconnecting the motor when the engine starts, means formoving the gear into operative position, and means for closing thestarting switch when such movement of the gear is stopped.

11. In combination with an internal combustion engine, startingmechanism therefor including a motor and a starting switch, meansincluding a movably mounted gear for connecting the motor to crank theengine and disconnecting the motor when the engine starts, means forurging the gear toward operative position, means responsive to theintake vacuum of the engine for holding the gear in idle position, andmeans responsive to positive pressure in the engine intake for delayingreengagement of the pinion.

THEODORE JEAN-BAPTIS'I'E LAFI'I'IE.

